Symposium urges teens to stay in school

About 800 youths take part in the event, which included workshops.

Mitchell, a 20-year-old who graduated from Raines High School and is now in his third year at Florida A&M University has attended the Boys2Men Symposium every year. The event, which is aimed at helping males ages 11 to 18 avoid delinquency and stay in school, occurred for the fifth time on Saturday at Jacksonville's Police Athletic League on West 33rd Street.

"Every year I hear the same message," Mitchell said. "Stay in school, work hard, make good choices."

He was back this year speaking to younger kids about his experience.

About 800 children participated Saturday.

Local officials said the symposium is needed because of studies like the Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males, which showed Duval County had a black male graduation rate of 23 percent in 2008.

Mitchell said a large part of his success is due to the assistance he's gotten from Boys2Men mentor Charles Griggs.

"Mr. Griggs holds me accountable," said Mitchell, "and he makes sure I study, take out the trash and do everything else I'm supposed to."

Joeshawn Freeman, 14, was attending his first symposium. He said the day had encouraged him to stay in school.

"Everyone today was telling me to not drop out and work hard," said Freeman, who lives on Main Street and hopes to be a pharmacist when he grows up.

State Rep. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, was one of the honorary chairs of the event. Gibson said she made it a point to be at the event all day, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

She said she appreciated the small touches, like when mentors demonstrated how to put on a tie.

Philip Mobley, 2010 Boys2Men Chair and the executive director of Northside Community Involvement, said the event helps pair children with mentors, and encourages children to stay away from gangs and stay in school.

"It's important that we give the young guys a message that they can be successful," Mobley said. "But we also make it fun and engaging."

The event also included interactive workshops addressing college majors, a celebrity basketball game and a Rites of Passage to Manhood Ceremony.